Are there stats for long term survival after oesphageal cancer ?

[strangetimes]

Stats seem mainly about the 5 year survival rate .

I've done well and am now 6 years post surgery but wonder about the long term /old age .

Anyone any links?

Though I know stats are averages and necessarily based on the past .

[sallym]

I don't know of any stats for long term survival. I do know that I was given the possibility of another 3yrs when I was 58yrs old. Now coming up to my birthday I shall be 84yrs old or as I like to think 21 x 4, it sounds better! Fit and well. I know others who have survived longer. good luck, just keep going. sally

[Janashlin in reply to sallym]

Wow and thank you for sharing!

[Cortex1 in reply to sallym]

Sally did you have esophagectomy?

[sallym in reply to Cortex1]

Yes, I had a total removal of all my oesophagus and the upper part of my stomach in 1994. Two nodes in my stomach were cancerous. also a tumour in the oesophagus. No chemotherapy in those days as they didn't find an effective drug for further 2yrs. Radium was not given. All slightly experimental in those days, but it did work and here I still am. Best wishes on your journey sally

[Mentalmicky6 in reply to sallym]

Well done ,I'm seven years post op and still working with no plans to retire at 71

[Mikey2711 in reply to Mentalmicky6]

Me too, 5 years post op, 70 years old and back singing Opera..life’s good..!

[Janxm]

The stats are really scary aren't they? I don't know the answer but last week I asked the oncologist how much the radiotherapy treatment had affected my chance of getting cancer. (I've had as much radiotherapy as you can have in a lifetime) She said she couldn't and wouldn't answer but that if it did cause a cancer it would probably take about 10 years to develop. Hope that adds to your knowledge!

[DaveChuter]

Hi

I am 13 years out this year.

There are no official stats for survival long term as normally signed off by hospital at 5 or 10 years.

But I do know people who are 20 - 30 years out from surgery so we know long term survivorship is possible.

Something we need to find out to see if there are any trends we can feedback to the researchers.

[Spikey]

I'm sure I've seen 10 year survival statistics in the past, but the only thing I could find online was on the ONS website, which quoted a predicted 10 year oesophageal cancer survival rate for men of 12.5%. Since this is not very different from the 5 year survival rate, which was around 14% the last time I looked, I think it is reasonable to assume that, if you have had curative treatment (i.e. surgery) and have survived 5 years, the chances of the cancer returning are very low. What is impossible to estimate is what effect chemotherapy, multiple CT scans, weight loss, malabsorption of vitamins and minerals and all the other after effects of major surgery have on our long term life expectancy. This is affected by too many other factors, such as age, fitness, lifestyle and general health, which vary greatly between individual patients.

[abreynolds]

YEP ME can't tempt fate I am fine at the moment, 12 years since the rebuild. but feel nearly as good as new for an old duffer, its quite a long journey. and sometime you feel like S**t but you do get better, I am 70, and My son took me to see friends in southern Ireland, and I went to clubs and bars, till early morning, My son keep asking me to stop disappearing, it was funny that He know how we felt when He was at home, x

[abreynolds]

Oh yes one thing more, do things that you would never do but would love to, Like me now, I do because I wouldn't be here anyway if I didn't have the op'x

[sallym in reply to abreynolds]

totally agree. I took my grandson to fly in the air tunnel, challenged were my photo was I also went flying up the tunnel (110 miles an hour) at 82yrs old. As I should not have been here what had I got to loose! Life takes on a whole new meaning so enjoy it sally

[Navstar]

Hello,

I have Oesophagtitis in the GOJ and also burning sensation straight after I have eaten. It's not reflux. I am really scared of both and worried about cancer. I am on Pantoprazole since last year and trying to wean off it as they say my GOJ is lax. This is due to low stomach acid so the sphincter isn't closing and hence pepsin is causing the damage in the food pipe.

[AoifeMcC]

I had my diagnostic endoscope later this month in 2006, so all the 13's at the moment - then went on to have chemo (after delaying it because I wanted to have fertility preservation) with the hope of surgery and then my total esophagectomy surgery in early 2007, I had also married 2 weeks post chemo). I did have very severe complications post surgery. I also have had long term illness since childhood.

I am a mother of two wonderful and dreamed of children who are 8 and 9 and was 45 in March this year.

I am still getting used to the new normal but am grateful to be a wife and mum.